Apparatus and method for high speed filtering of image for high precision

ABSTRACT

Provided are an apparatus and a method for high speed filtering of an image for high precision that may include a coordinate determining unit to determine coordinates (P, Q) on a screen with respect to a first pixel to be filtered, a pixel determining unit to determine a second pixel with coordinates including either P or Q, a block setting unit to set a first block comprising the first pixel, and a second block comprising the second pixel, and a processing unit to filter the first pixel by comparing the first block and the second block.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2010-0080146, filed on Aug. 19, 2010, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Example embodiments of the present disclosure relate to an apparatus anda method for high speed filtering of an image for high precision thatmay reduce a number of a second block to be compared with a first blockincluding a first pixel to be filtered, and thereby reduce an amount ofcalculation when filtering the first pixel.

2. Description of the Related Art

A conventional Non Local Means (NLM) filter apparatus may determine afirst pixel to be filtered on a screen, and may determine N² totalpixels located on the screen as a second pixel, N being a number ofpixels on an edge of the screen. Then, the NLM filter apparatus mayfilter the first pixel by comparing a first block including the firstpixel and a second block including the second pixel.

Here, N² number of calculations may be performed to filter a singlepixel, and a filtering process may be complex and accordingly a greatdeal of time may be used for the filtering.

Thus, a technology for efficiently filtering using fewer calculationsmay be needed.

SUMMARY

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing anapparatus for high speed filtering of an image for high precision, theapparatus including a coordinate determining unit to determinecoordinates (P, Q) on a screen with respect to a first pixel to befiltered, a pixel determining unit to determine a second pixel withcoordinates including either P or Q, a block setting unit to set a firstblock including the first pixel, and a second block including the secondpixel, and a processing unit to filter the first pixel by comparing thefirst block and the second block.

The foregoing and/or other aspects are achieved by providing a method ofhigh speed filtering of an image for high precision, the methodincluding determining coordinates (P, Q) on a screen with respect to afirst pixel to be filtered, determining a second pixel with coordinatesincluding either P or Q, setting a first block comprising the firstpixel, and a second block comprising the second pixel, and filtering thefirst pixel by comparing the first block and the second block.

Additional aspects of embodiments will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows and, in part, will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the disclosure.

Example embodiments may determine coordinates (P, Q) on a screen withrespect to a first pixel to be filtered, determine a second pixel withcoordinates including either P or Q, then compare a first blockincluding the first pixel, and a second block including the secondpixel, and filter the first pixel, thereby reducing a number of thesecond block to be compared with the first block, to be fewer than anumber of blocks corresponding to total pixels located on a screen, andreducing an amount of calculation when filtering the first pixel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects will become apparent and more readilyappreciated from the following description of embodiments, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of an apparatus forhigh speed filtering of an image for high precision according to exampleembodiments;

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram to describe an example of filtering in anapparatus for high speed filtering of an image for high precisionaccording to example embodiments;

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram to describe another example of filtering inan apparatus for high speed filtering of an image for high precisionaccording to example embodiments; and

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart to describe a method of high speedfiltering of an image for high precision.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of whichare illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein reference numeralsrefer to the like elements throughout. Embodiments are described belowto explain the present disclosure by referring to the figures.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a configuration of an apparatus forhigh speed filtering of an image for high precision according to exampleembodiments.

Referring to FIG. 1, the apparatus for high speed filtering of the imagefor high precision 101 may include, for example, a coordinatedetermining unit 103, a pixel determining unit 105, a block setting unit107, and a processing unit 109.

The coordinate determining unit 103 may determine, as an example,coordinates (P, Q) on a screen with respect to a first pixel to befiltered.

The coordinate determining unit 103 may determine the coordinates (P, Q)of the first pixel on an edge of an image displayed on the screen. Adirection of the edge may be parallel to an axial direction of P or anaxial direction of Q, or may be a direction other than parallel to theaxial direction of P or the axial direction of Q. Here, the axialdirection of P may correspond to a direction of a virtual axis that mayconnect coordinates (P, variable) such as a direction of a vertical linethat may pass through the first pixel, which will be referred to as anaxial direction of P hereinafter. Also, the axial direction of Q maycorrespond to a direction of a virtual axis that may connect coordinates(variable, Q) such as a direction of a horizontal line that may passthrough the first pixel, which will be referred to as an axial directionof Q hereinafter.

The determining of a second pixel based on whether the direction of theedge is parallel to the axial direction of P or the axial direction of Qwill be further described.

When the edge is parallel to the axial direction of P or the axialdirection of Q, the pixel determining unit 105 may determine a secondpixel with coordinates including either P or Q.

For example, the pixel determining unit 105 may determine a second pixelof coordinates (P, Q₁), (P, Q₂) . . . , (P, Q_(u)) that may bevertically located in relation to the coordinates (P, Q), or a secondpixel of coordinates (P₁, Q), (P₂, Q) (P_(g), Q) that may behorizontally located to the coordinates (P, Q). Here, u of Q_(u) maycorrespond to a number of pixels located on an edge of the screen, forexample, vertically located on the screen, and v of P_(v) may correspondto a number of pixels located on another edge of the screen, forexample, horizontally located on the screen.

When a number of pixels located on the edge of a screen, or on anotheredge of the screen corresponds to N, a size of a window may correspondto N*1, N being a natural number.

When the edge is in a direction other than parallel with the axialdirection of P or the axial direction of Q, for example, in a directiondiagonal to the axial direction, the pixel determining unit 105 maydetermine a second pixel with coordinates including either P+m or Q+m, mbeing an integer.

For example, the pixel determining unit 105 may determine a second pixelof coordinates (P+m, Q₁), (P+m, Q₂) . . . , (P+m, Q_(u)) that may bevertically located with respect to the coordinates (P, Q), or a secondpixel of coordinates (P₁, Q+m), (P₂, Q+m) . . . , (P_(u), Q+m) that maybe horizontally located with respect to the coordinates (P, Q).

When a number of pixels located on an edge of the screen, or on anotheredge of the screen corresponds to N, a size of a window may correspondto N*M, N being a natural number, and M being an absolute value of m.

The pixel determining unit 105 may select m so that any one of a secondpixel with coordinates including P+m, and a second pixel withcoordinates including Q+m is determined to be less than half of N² totalpixels located on the screen. M corresponding to an absolute value of mmay be less than N/2.

The block setting unit 107 may set a first block including the firstpixel, and a second block including the selected second pixel. The blocksetting unit 107 may set a predetermined size of the first block and apredetermined size of the second block. Here, the first block and thesecond block may have a same size.

For example, the block setting unit 107 may set a 3*3 first blockincluding a first pixel, and a 3*3 second block including a secondpixel.

The processing unit 109 may filter the first pixel by comparing thefirst block and the second block. The processing unit 109 may calculatea weight with respect to the second block by comparing the first blockand the second block, and may filter the first pixel based on thecalculated weight and the second pixel.

The processing unit 109 may calculate a similarity S_(s) ^(i)) betweenthe first block and the second block based on a pixel brightnessdifference between the first block and the second block, and maycalculate a weight W_(s) ^(ii)) based on the calculated similarity. Theprocessing unit 109 may calculate a similarity between the first blockand the second block by calculating a difference of a brightness valuebetween pixels existing at a same location as the first block and thesecond block, and by adding up the difference of the brightness valuewith respect to each pixel.

For example, when having a brightness value for each pixel of

$\begin{pmatrix}{1,} & {2,} & 3 \\{2,} & {3,} & 4 \\{0,} & {0,} & 1\end{pmatrix}\quad$

as a 3*3 first block, and having a brightness value for each pixel of

$\begin{pmatrix}{0,} & {2,} & 3 \\{2,} & {1,} & 4 \\{0,} & {0,} & 1\end{pmatrix}\quad$

as a 3*3 second block, the processing unit 109 may calculate(|1−0|+|2−2|+|3−3|+|2−2|+|2−1|+|4−4|+|0−0|+|0−0|+|1−1|/9)=0.2 as asimilarity between the first block and the second block.

The similarity S_(s) ^(i)) may be expressed as Equation 1.

$\begin{matrix}\begin{matrix}{{s_{s}( {x,y,x_{u},y_{v}} )} = {{s_{y}( {x,y,x,y_{v}} )} + {s_{x}( {x,y_{v},x_{u},y_{v}} )}}} \\{= {{\sum\limits_{j}{\sum\limits_{i}{{{f( {{x + i},{y + j}} )} - {f( {{x + i},{y_{v} + j}} )}}}^{2}}} +}} \\{{\sum\limits_{j}{\sum\limits_{i}{{{f( {{x + i},{y_{v} + j}} )} - {f( {{x_{u} + i},{y_{v} + j}} )}}}^{2}}}}\end{matrix} & \lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 1} \rbrack\end{matrix}$

Also, the weight W_(s) ^(ii)) may be inversely proportional to thesimilarity S_(s) ^(i)), and may be expressed as Equation 2.

[Equation 2]:

w _(s) (x, y, x _(u) , y _(v)))=w _(y) (x, y, x, y _(v))·w _(x) (x, y_(v) , x _(u) , y _(v))

Consequently, the processing unit 109 may filter the first pixel byadjusting a brightness value of the first pixel using a value obtainedby calculating a brightness value of a second pixel in the second block,and the calculated weight.

Particularly, when a plurality of second blocks are set, the processingunit 109 may adjust a brightness value of a first pixel in a first blockby multiplying a brightness value of a second pixel in each of thesecond blocks, and a weight with respect to the second block, and bycalculating an average of the multiplied brightness values. For example,when a brightness value of a second pixel in a second block_#1corresponds to ‘2’, a brightness value of a second pixel in a secondblock_#2 corresponds to ‘2’, a brightness value of a second pixel in asecond block_#3 corresponds to ‘1’, and a weight of each of a secondblock_#1, a second block_#2, and a second block_#3 respectivelycorrespond to ‘1’, ‘0.5’, and ‘0.3’, the processing unit 109 may filterthe first pixel by adjusting a brightness value of the first pixel ofthe first block as (2*1)+(2*0.5)+(1*0.3)/3=1.1.

The value of filtering the first pixel may be expressed as Equation 3.

$\begin{matrix}{{\overset{\_}{f}( {x,y} )} = {\sum\limits_{v}{{w_{y}( {x,y,x,y_{v}} )}{\sum\limits_{u}{{w_{x}( {x,y_{v},x_{u},y_{v}} )} \cdot {f( {x_{u},y_{v}} )}}}}}} & \lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 3} \rbrack\end{matrix}$

Here, (x, y) correspond to coordinates of the first pixel, and (x_(u),y_(v)) correspond to coordinates of the second pixel.

A conventional Non Local Means (NLM) filter apparatus may determine afirst pixel (P, Q) to be filtered on a screen, determine each of pixels,for example, (P₁, Q₁), (P₁, Q₂) . . . , (P₁, Q_(u)), (P₂, Q₁), (P₂, Q₂). . . , (P₂, Q_(u)) . . . (P_(u), Q₁), (P_(v), Q₂) . . . , (P_(v),Q_(u)) as a second pixel, then compare a first block including the firstpixel, and a second block including the second pixel, and filter thefirst pixel.

Here, a similarity S between the first block and the second block may beexpressed as Equation 4.

$\begin{matrix}{{s( {x,y,x_{u},y_{v}} )} = {\sum\limits_{j}{\sum\limits_{i}{{{f( {{x + i},{y + j}} )} - {f( {{x_{u} + i},{y_{v} + j}} )}}}^{2}}}} & \lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 4} \rbrack\end{matrix}$

Here, (x, y) corresponds to coordinates of the first pixel, and(x_(u)y_(v)) corresponds to coordinates of the second pixel. Also,f(x+i, y+j) corresponds to a brightness value of a pixel in the firstblock, and f(x_(u)+i,y_(v)+j) corresponds to a brightness value of apixel in the second block.

A weight w with respect to the second block may be expressed as Equation5.

$\begin{matrix}{{w( {x,y,x_{u},y_{v}} )} \propto {\exp ( {- \frac{s( {x,y,x_{u},y_{v}} )}{\sigma^{2}}} )}} & \lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 5} \rbrack\end{matrix}$

The value of filtering the first pixel may be expressed as Equation 6.

$\begin{matrix}{{\overset{\_}{f}( {x,y} )} = {\sum\limits_{v}{\sum\limits_{u}{{w( {x,y,x_{u},y_{v}} )} \cdot {f( {x_{u},y_{v}} )}}}}} & \lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 6} \rbrack\end{matrix}$

Equation 7 may be derived from Equation 1 and Equation 4.

$\begin{matrix}{{s( {x,y,x_{u},y_{v}} )} = {{s_{s}( {x,y,x_{u},y_{v}} )} + {\sum\limits_{j}{\sum\limits_{i}{2( {{f( {{x + i},{y + j}} )} - {f( {{x + i},{y_{v} + j}} )}} )( {{f( {{x + i},{y_{v} + j}} )} - {f( {{x_{u} + i},{y_{v} + j}} )}} )}}}}} & \lbrack {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} 7} \rbrack\end{matrix}$

When a pattern is similar along an axial direction of Y, or similar inan axial direction of Y, it may come to f(x+i, y+j)−f(x+i, y_(v)+j)≈0,and accordingly s(x, y, x_(u), y_(v))≈s_(s) (x, y, x_(u), y_(v)) may becompleted.

Also, when a pattern is similar along an axial direction of X, orsimilar in an X axial direction, it may come to f(x+i,y_(v)+j)−f(x_(u)+i,y_(v)+j)≈0, and accordingly s(x, y, x_(u),y_(v))≈s_(s)(x, y, x_(u), y_(v)) may be completed.

Consequently, an apparatus for high speed filtering of an image for highprecision may derive a performance of filtering results similar to theconventional NLM filter apparatus, however, the apparatus for high speedfiltering of the image for high precision may efficiently perform thefiltering using relatively fewer calculations, thereby simplifying thefiltering and accordingly reducing a time used for the filtering.

That is, when a size of a screen corresponds to N*N, the conventionalNLM filter apparatus may perform N² number of calculations, whereas theapparatus for high speed filtering of the image for high precision mayperform 2N number of calculations, here, a size of a window correspondsto N*1, thereby deriving a performance of filtering result similar tothe conventional NLM filter apparatus, N being a natural number. When,an edge of an image displayed on a screen is formed in a diagonaldirection, as the window size is set to N*M, the apparatus for highspeed filtering of the image for high precision may perform 2MN numberof calculations, thereby deriving a performance of filtering resultsimilar to the conventional NLM filter apparatus.

FIG. 2 illustrates a diagram to describe an example of filtering in anapparatus for high speed filtering of an image for high precisionaccording to example embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 2, the apparatus for high speed filtering of the imagefor high precision may determine coordinates (P, Q) on a screen withrespect to a first pixel to be filtered, determine a second pixel withcoordinates including either P or Q, and then filter the first pixel bycomparing a first block including the first pixel and a second blockincluding the second pixel. Here, the apparatus for high speed filteringof the image for high precision may determine the coordinates (P, Q) ofthe first pixel on an edge of an image displayed on the screen.

For example, the apparatus for high speed filtering of the image forhigh precision may determine coordinates (P, Q) on a screen with respectto a first pixel 201 a to be filtered, and determine either one of asecond pixel_#1 202 a, a second pixel_#2 203 a, and a second pixel_#3204 a with coordinates including Q, or one of a second pixel_#4 211 a, asecond pixel_#5 212 a, and a second pixel_#6 213 a with coordinatesincluding P.

The apparatus for high speed filtering of the image for high precisionmay set a first block 201 b including the first pixel 201 a, and asecond block_#1 through a second block_#6 (202 b, 203 b, 204 b, 211 b,212 b, and 213 b) including the second pixel_#1 through the secondpixel_#6 (202 a, 203 a, 204 a, 211 a, 212 a, and 213 a), and may filterthe first pixel 201 a by comparing the first block 201 b and each of thesecond block_#1 through the second block_#6 (202 b, 203 b, 204 b, 211 b,212 b, and 213 b).

That is, the apparatus for high speed filtering of the image for highprecision may calculate a similarity S₁ between the first block 201 band the second block_#1 202 b, a similarity S₂ between the first block201 b and the second block_#2 203 b, . . . , and a similarity S₆ betweenthe first block 201 b and the second block_#6 213 b, may calculate aweight W_(1 through W) ₆ with respect to the second block_#1 through thesecond block_#6 based on the similarity S₁ through S₆, may multiply abrightness value of each of the second pixel_#1 through the secondpixel_#6 (202 a, 203 a, 204 a, 211 a, 212 a, and 213 a) and the weightof each of W₁ through W₆, then may calculate an average of thebrightness values obtained by multiplication, and thereby may adjust abrightness value of the first pixel 201 a of the first block 201 b.

FIG. 3 illustrates a diagram to describe another example of filtering inan apparatus for high speed filtering of an image for high precisionaccording to example embodiments.

Referring to FIG. 3, the apparatus for high speed filtering of the imagefor high precision may determine coordinates (P, Q) on a screen withrespect to a first pixel to be filtered and when a direction of an edgeof an image including the first pixel on the screen is in a directionother than parallel to an axial direction of P or an axial direction ofQ. As an example, a diagonal direction, may determine a second pixelwith coordinates including either P+m or Q+m, m being an integer.

For example, the apparatus for high speed filtering of the image forhigh precision may determine coordinates (P, Q) on a screen with respectto a first pixel 301 a to be filtered, and when a direction of an edgeof an image including the first pixel on the screen is in a directionother than parallel to an axial direction of P or an axial direction ofQ, for example, a diagonal direction, may determine a second pixel withcoordinates including either one of Q−1, Q, and Q+1, or one of P−1, P,and P+1, m being one of −1, 0, and 1.

That is, the apparatus for high speed filtering of the image for highprecision may determine either one of a second pixel_#1_1 through asecond pixel_#1_4 (311 a through 314 a) with coordinates including Q−1,a second pixel_#2_1 through a second pixel_#2_4 (321 a, 323 a, and 324a) with coordinates including Q, and a second pixel_#3_1 through asecond pixel_#_4 (331 a through 334 a) with coordinates including Q+1,or one of a second pixel_#4_1 through a second pixel_#4_4 (341 a through344 a) with coordinates including P−1, a second pixel_#5-1 through asecond pixel_#5_4 (351 a, 352 a, and 354 a) with coordinates includingP, and a second pixel_#6_1 through a second pixel_#6_4 (361 a, 362 a,and 364 a) with coordinates including P+1.

Then, the apparatus for high speed filtering of the image for highprecision may filter the first pixel 301 a by comparing a first blockincluding the first pixel 301 a, and a second block including the secondpixel (311 a through 314 a, 321 a, 323 a, 324 a, 331 a through 334 a,341 a through 344 a, 351 a, 352 a, 354 a, 361 a, 362 a, and 364 a).

FIG. 4 illustrates a flowchart to describe a method of high speedfiltering of an image for high precision. The method may be performed bythe apparatus for high speed filtering of the image for high precisionor by the apparatus for high speed filtering of a high precision imageor by a general purpose computer or processor.

Referring to FIG. 4, coordinates (P, Q) may be determined on a screenwith respect to a first pixel to be filtered in operation 401.

The coordinates (P, Q) of the first pixel may be determined on an edgeof an image displayed on the screen. Here, a direction of the edge maybe parallel with either an axial direction of P, for example, a verticaldirection, or an axial direction of Q, for example, a horizontaldirection, or may be in a direction other than parallel with either theaxial direction of P or the axial direction of Q.

In operation 403, a second pixel may be determined using coordinatesincluding either P or Q.

When the direction of the edge of the image where the first pixel islocated is parallel with either the axial direction of P or the axialdirection of Q, a second pixel may be determined with coordinatesincluding either P or Q.

Also, when the direction of the edge of the image where the first pixelis located is different in a direction other than parallel with eitherthe axial direction of P or the axial direction of Q, a second pixel maybe determined with coordinates including either P+m or Q+m, m being aninteger.

Here, m may be selected so that any one of a second pixel withcoordinates including P+m, and a second pixel with coordinates includingQ+m is determined to be less than a half of 2N total pixels located onthe screen. M corresponding to an absolute value of m may be less thanN/2.

In operation 405, a first block may be set including the first pixel,and a second block including the selected second pixel.

A predetermined size of the first block and the second block may be set.Here, the first block and the second block may have a same size.

In operation 407, the the first pixel may be filtered by comparing thefirst block and the second block.

A weight may be calculated with respect to the second block by comparingthe first block and the second block and the first pixel may be filteredbased on the calculated weight and the second pixel.

A similarity may be calculated between the first block and the secondblock based on a pixel brightness difference between the first block andthe second block and the weight may then be calculated based on thecalculated similarity. Here, a difference may be calculated ofbrightness values between pixels existing at a same location of thefirst block and the second block, and a similarity between the firstblock and the second block may then be calculated by adding up thedifference of the brightness value with respect to each of the pixels.

Consequently, the first pixel may be filtered by adjusting a brightnessvalue of the first pixel using a value obtained by calculating thebrightness value of the second pixel and the weight.

When a plurality of second blocks is set, a brightness value of thefirst pixel of the first block may be adjusted by multiplying abrightness value of a second pixel of each of the second blocks and aweight with respect to the second block, and an average of thebrightness values obtained by multiplication may be calculated.

The apparatus and method for high speed filtering of the image for highprecision may determine coordinates (P, Q) on a screen with respect to afirst pixel to be filtered, may determine a second pixel withcoordinates including either P or Q, then may filter the first pixel bycomparing a first block including the first pixel, and a second blockincluding the second pixel, thereby reducing a number of a second blockto be compared with the first block to be less than a number of blockscorresponding to total pixels located on the screen, and reducing anamount of calculation when filtering the first pixel.

The apparatus and the method for high speed filtering of an image forhigh precision according to the above-described embodiments may berecorded in non-transitory computer-readable media including programinstructions to implement various operations embodied by a computer. Themedia may also include, alone or in combination with the programinstructions, data files, data structures, and the like.

Examples of program instructions include both machine code, such asproduced by a compiler, and files containing higher level code that maybe executed by the computer using an interpreter. The described hardwaredevices may be configured to act as one or more software modules inorder to perform the operations of the above-described embodiments, orvice versa. Any one or more of the software modules described herein maybe executed by a dedicated processor unique to that unit or by aprocessor common to one or more of the modules. The described methodsmay be executed on a general purpose computer or processor or may beexecuted on a particular machine such as the apparatus for high speedfiltering of the image for high precision described herein. Theapparatus for high speed filtering of the image for high precision mayinclude at least one processor to control one or more of theprocessor-executable units.

Although embodiments have been shown and described, it would beappreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made inthese embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit ofthe disclosure, the scope of which is defined by the claims and theirequivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for high speed filtering of an imagefor high precision, the apparatus comprising: a coordinate determiningunit to determine coordinates (P, Q) on a screen with respect to a firstpixel to be filtered; a pixel determining unit to determine a secondpixel with coordinates including at least one of P and Q; and aprocessing unit to filter the first pixel by comparing a first blockincluding the first pixel and a second block including the second pixel.2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the coordinate determining unitdetermines the coordinates (P, Q) of the first pixel on an edge of animage displayed on the screen.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein,when a direction of the edge is in a direction other than parallel to anaxial direction of P and an axial direction of Q, the pixel determiningunit determines a second pixel with coordinates including either P+m orQ+m, m being an integer.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the pixeldetermining unit selects m so that any one of a second pixel withcoordinates including P+m , and a second pixel with coordinatesincluding Q+m is determined to be less than a half of a total quanitityof pixels located on the screen.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe processing unit calculates a weight with respect to the secondblock, and filters the first pixel based on the calculated weight andthe second pixel.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the processingunit calculates a similarity between the first block and the secondblock based on a pixel brightness difference between the first block andthe second block, and calculates the weight based on the calculatedsimilarity.
 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unitcalculates a weight with respect to the second block, and filters thefirst pixel by adjusting a brightness value of the first pixel using avalue obtained by multiplying a brightness value of the second pixel andthe weight.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a blocksetting unit to set the first block comprising the first pixel and thesecond block comprising the second pixel.
 9. A method for high speedfiltering of an image for high precision, the method comprising:determining coordinates (P, Q) on a screen with respect to a first pixelto be filtered; determining a second pixel with coordinates including atleast one of P and Q; and filtering, using a processor, the first pixelby comparing a first block including the first pixel and a second blockincluding the second pixel.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thedetermining of the coordinates (P, Q) on the screen comprisesdetermining the coordinates (P, Q) of the first pixel on an edge of animage displayed on the screen.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein thedetermining of the second pixel comprises determining a second pixelwith coordinates including either P+m or Q+m, when a direction of theedge is in a direction other than parallel to an axial direction of Pand an axial direction of Q, m being an integer.
 12. The method of claim11, wherein the determining of the second pixel selects m so that anyone of a second pixel with coordinates including P+m, and a second pixelwith coordinates including Q+m is determined to be less than a half of atotal quantity of pixels located on the screen.
 13. The method of claim9, wherein the filtering of the first pixel comprises: calculating aweight with respect to the second block; and filtering the first pixelbased on the calculated weight and the second pixel.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, wherein the calculating of the weight with respect to thesecond block comprises: calculating a similarity between the first blockand the second block based on a pixel brightness difference between thefirst block and the second block; and calculating the weight based onthe calculated similarity.
 15. The method of claim 9, wherein thefiltering of the first pixel comprises: calculating a weight withrespect to the second block; and filtering the first pixel by adjustinga brightness value of the first pixel using a value obtained bymultiplying a brightness value of the second pixel and the weight. 16.The method of claim 9, further comprising setting the first blockcomprising the first pixel and the second block comprising the secondpixel.
 17. An apparatus for high speed filtering of a high precisionimage, the apparatus comprising: a coordinate determining unit todetermine first and second coordinates of a first pixel to be filtered;a pixel determining unit to determine a second pixel with a coordinateincluding at least one of the first and second coordinates; and aprocessing unit to filter the first pixel by comparing a first blockincluding the first pixel and a second block including the second pixel.18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processing unit calculates aweight with respect to the second block, and filters the first pixelbased on the calculated weight and the second pixel.
 19. A method forhigh speed filtering of a high precision image, the method comprising:determining first and second coordinates of a first pixel to befiltered; determining a second pixel with a coordinate including atleast one of the first and second coordinates; and filtering the firstpixel by comparing a first block including the first pixel and a secondblock including the second pixel.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereinthe filtering of the first pixel comprises calculating a weight withrespect to the second block and filtering the first pixel based on thecalculated weight and the second pixel.